Finding the Right Approach: The Aha Moment for a Picture Book
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April, 9, 2026
By Lesléa Newman
They say flattery will get you nowhere, but I beg to differ. In my case flattery did get me somewhere. And not just anywhere. It got me a book deal.
I had previously published Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail with Charlesbridge, a wonderful children’s book press. The book had done very well, winning both the National Jewish Book Award and the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award, and had been picked up by the PJ Library, which sends thousands of copies of Jewish-themed children’s books to families every year. Naturally I wanted to do another book with this press and specifically with my wonderful editor, Julie Bliven. But I couldn’t think of an idea. Coming up with a new idea has been my biggest challenge since I began writing, more than fifty years ago. Despite all the books I have published—close to 90!—I always panic when it’s time to begin a new project. Has the well run dry, this time for good?
Luckily, my editor had an idea for me. “I’d love to do a children’s book about sitting shiva,” Julie said, “and I would only trust one writer with such a serious and important topic. And that writer is you.”
How could I say no?
The trouble was, I had no idea how to approach the subject of Jewish mourning rituals for young readers. I thought about it and even did some scribbling about it, but ultimately came up with bubkes (Yiddish for nothing). So I let it simmer on the back burner of my mind for about a year while I worked on other projects.
Every once in a while, I thought about Julie’s suggestion. Or rather, it nagged at me. I didn’t want to disappoint her. And yet, my pen refused to cooperate. And then, frankly, I forgot about it.
And that’s when the idea popped into my head. It’s similar to what happens when I solve my daily crossword puzzle. I get as far as I can, and then walk away. And when I return, there's the answer I was looking for, so obviously staring me in the face, I can’t believe I missed it.
The problem was, I kept thinking about telling this story from the point of view of a child who was sitting shiva with their family, mourning a loved one. But it wasn’t working. One day, while at my desk, I heard the voice of my dear friend, the beloved writer Patty MacLachlan, who so famously said, “The title taps you on the shoulder and the first line takes you by the hand.”
What if the story was told from the point of view of a child who pays a shiva call to a friend? And what if that child had never paid a shiva call before? Then her friend could literally take her by the hand and lead her through the Jewish mourning rituals that are taking place, leading the reader through the story as well.
Knowing this was my aha! moment, I picked up my pen and started writing. And the story flowed effortlessly; the door had opened. Lizzie appeared on the page with her mom on their way to visit Lizzie’s friend Joshua, whose grandfather has died. Enter Queenie, the little white dog who once belonged to Joshua’s grandfather and now belongs to Joshua. Enter Joshua’s parents. Enter Rabbi Sarah. And enter Grandpa, who lives on in Joshua’s memory.
Of course when I say “flowed effortlessly” that doesn’t mean I didn’t revise. The story went through at least 20 drafts until I felt it was good enough to show my writers’ group, who had thoughtful questions and suggestions. A few drafts later, the manuscript was ready to show my agent, who also gave me feedback. Back to the drafting table. Finally the story was ready to show my editor, who of course had comments of her own. Revise, revise, revise and then . . . (drumroll please) offer, contract, more editing, copyediting, illustrator sketches, finished art, and then finally, five years after Julie pitched me the idea, I received my first copy of Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story.
And now it’s time for a new project. Anybody got an idea for me?
Lesléa Newman has just signed her ninety-sixth book contract(!). Forthcoming books include the children’s books Rainbow Cookies, Song of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Welcome: A Wish for Refugees. A poetry chapbook for adults titled The Last Flame Last will be published in November.